Why was Tony Kornheiser suspended from PTI?

Is it just me or is Hugo Chavez running American sports these days?

While the Jets fining Rex Ryan $50,000 for giving some kid the finger seemed ridiculous, in the No Fun League it was almost expected. But now, just a few weeks later, comes the news that ESPN has suspended Tony Kornheiser from Pardon The Interruption for two weeks following inappropriate comments he made about ESPN anchor Hannah Storm on his local radio show.

Considering Don Imus was originally given a two-week suspension for saying the mostly black Rutgers University women’s basketball team looked like a bunch of “nappy-headed hos” and Rush Limbaugh says something stupid and offensive on the radio every morning, I was definitely curious to find out what Kornheiser said.

Then, disappointed to learn it was, of course, nothing:

“Hannah Storm is in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a Catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.” [She's 47.] “She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body…She’s what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point.”

Sure the comments were rude, but as the photo shows, they weren’t exactly off target. Nor were they surprising. As any PTI viewer knows, Kornheiser’s always talking about old babes on the air. PTI’s happy birthday segment is practically devoted to it.

Still, ESPN suspended him.

“Entirely inappropriate,” said ESPN executive vice president John Skipper in a statement. “Hurtful and personal comments such as these are not acceptable and have significant consequences.”

Hurtful and personal? Do the bosses at ESPN even watch PTI? Kornheiser’s constantly ridiculing everybody in the world of sports. How they look, what they say, what they wear, even what they might be thinking (ie. the heads on sticks segment). That’s why we love the show. Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon go beyond the usual bland commentary given by obnoxious hotheads, consistently delivering the freshest insights and funniest takes while never taking themselves too seriously.

That’s not to say Kornheiser has the right to be sexist, it’s just that his comments weren’t. When describing Storm he never once talked about the product, just the packaging. If Stuart Scott showed up on Sportscentre with a leather coat and a monocle for that weird eye of his, you can bet Tony would’ve said something.

Unfortunately, however, that’s exactly what ESPN is trying to avoid. The problem here is not that Kornheiser talked about a lady’s wardrobe — according to Deadspin, ESPN shared Kornheiser’s opinion, putting in a request to Hannah that she not wear the red boots anymore — it’s that he talked about a fellow employee’s wardrobe.

ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys pretty much admitted as much, saying, “Yes. Respect for colleagues is paramount!”

So, that’s it. With an ever-expanding roster of talent that includes other guys who tend to get out of line (Bill Simmons, Rick Reilly), ESPN is essentially drawing a line in the sand for their employees. Suspending one of their most popular and highest paid personalities for a seemingly harmless infraction sends a strong message throughout the company: “Watch what you say or there will be consequences.”

It seems Kornheiser heard it loud and clear, leading his radio show on Tuesday with this statement:

“I’ve said about 1,000 times, while doing radio in my life, the following sentence: if you put a live microphone in front of somebody, eventually, that person will say something wrong. This was one of the times I said something wrong. Beyond that, you can call me and ask me for comment. I’m not going to do it. It seems to me that, without any question, I broke the rules and this is the punishment that’s come.”

Kornheiser also apologized to Storm personally, but I doubt she demanded one. Storm’s a professional broadcaster who has been around sports for a long time. I’m sure she can take a little gentle ribbing. It’s just unfortunate ESPN has used her to make their point. While on the outside it may appear the network has Storm’s back, in actuality ESPN has just embarrassed her further, shining a giant spotlight on her wardrobe choices in order to send their own corporate message.

A message that has no place in the sports television business. Making guys like Kornheiser watch what they say is like telling Brooklyn Decker to put on a sweater. Talking is his business, and business is good.

The reason people enjoy watching guys like Kornheiser and to go even further, Charles Barkley, is that they have the potential to say anything at anytime.

While removing that potential might make good business sense for ESPN, it only leads to blander, less exciting television for the viewers.